Ask The Trainer: Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Q: My friend and I started walking every day at lunch time  about a mile and a half at a really fast pace. I wear my sneakers, but minutes into our walk I start to get a pain up the front of my leg between my foot and my knee. Sometimes it gets so bad, I have to stop walking. What am I doing wrong?  Ann

A: The pain you are describing is common for exercised-induced leg pain known as Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS) or Shin Splints. Causes of MTSS include exercise training mistakes, such as overuse, improper footwear, hard surfaces, and excess body weight. An alternative to walking every day at a brisk pace might be to alternate your walking days with a non-weight bearing exercise session, such as stationary cycling.

Also, your walking sneakers may have lost some or all of their shock absorbency. Based on the amount of walking you are doing daily, if you wear your sneakers exclusively, the life expectancy of a quality walking shoe would be 4 to 6 months. Visit an athletic shoe store that specializes in fitting walkers and runners for proper footwear. If you are walking exclusively on hard surfaces, you may want to consider finding a walking path or trail specifically built for walking or one that provides a more shock absorbing surface. Additionally, MTSS may be associated with excessive foot pronation. An evaluation by a podiatrist or physical therapist specializing in foot orthotics may prove to be tremendously beneficial in eliminating future pain.

While prevention is the first step, if pain persists, consult a physician for an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment.